Optical Allusionist

Mr. Johnson says that if we were to take all our "junk out of the closet", then stereotypes and other things would slowly disapparate. I've been thinking about that a lot lately. If people were more open about their problems, wouldn't people with similar problems feel less alone and more accepted? Wouldn't that problem seem more normal? Maybe if people were open so that we could understand a little better, then we could find solutions to the problems! But there's another side to this that would be crucial for this to be carried out effectively: Acceptance. The only way someone would be willing to say that they're anorexic or depressed is if they weren't verbally stoned after saying so. But what about murderers? Are there things that shouldn't be spoken of? Should the evil things of the world seem more acceptable, more normal? No! This encourages those things. BUT what if, after knowing these things, we viewed them as wicked, and attempted to bring them to a different path. Hmmm... But what about murderers? Yes, try to bring them over so that they won't continue with those actions, but what would we do for our security/safety? Punishment? If there was no punishment to hinder (or even discourage) improper action, then why would they stop? And if people knew there would be a punishment, then they'd be discouraged to talk about what they did if they did it. He told us later that his class was a place where we didn't have to think about the junk. That made more sense, but it was so comforting it got me thinking. Is it better to reveal the junk? Or to hold it inside? Is this a continuum or a dichotomy?

3 Comments

If I were to ask you, "Are you honest?", how many of you would say "Why, yes, thank you. I most certainly am." Perhaps the better question would be "Are you integretous?" (Yes, I know that's not a word- don't worry about it.) What would you say then? Are you true to yourself? What does it mean to truly hold to your integrity?
We live in a world of masks, personas, and allusions. I spell "illusions" with an 'a' in this case because that is just what they have become. We are master Allusionists, alluding to the world who we "really" are. 'Dramaturgy' is the idea stating that we all have a role in life. We're actors. We have costumes, lines, and dress rehearsals. When we mess up, we know it, and are set back into line.

True integrity includes showing and being comfortable with who you are in truth, now who you appear to be.

This is why I am, as we all are, an "allusionst". Not only am I an illusion, but an allusion. I show you what I want you to see of me.

0 Comment